A difficult time for the Lennoxville Curling Club
When the wheelchair curling program began 10 years ago in Lennoxville, it was the first of its kind in the region.
Over the years, the Lennoxville members, able-bodied and wheelchair-bound alike, have grown into a big family.
It is a challenging time these days, as the club mourns the loss of three members of the wheelchair curling program; Denis Grenier, Johanne Poulin and Anne-marie Vanasse, all of whom passed away in recent weeks.
“Each one in their own way contributed to the program,” said Alfred Whittier, who first started the wheelchair curling program in 2008.
“I don’t coach anymore, but I still consider them my players,” he added.
Denis Grenier was part of the first cohort of wheelchair curlers when the program began. He was quiet and kept to himself, according to Whittier, but was very skilled on the ice.
Vanasse joined the program in recent years. Because of her health, she was not able to play for long periods, but was a great example of determination, Whittier said.
“Johanne was special,” commented Whittier, explaining that as soon as she joined the program, she took on a leadership role.
Her first time on the ice with the team was at the Nationals in 2008, held in Halifax, NS. It was the first time Quebec was represented at the competition.
“She wasn’t even invited by us. She paid her own way down,” Whittier said.
When it came time to play, one of the Lennoxville curlers was ill. The rules required that each team have one female player.
After much form filling and phone calling to then Lennoxville Curling Club President Sylvia Smith and the national curling association office in Ottawa, Poulin became a member and competed at the nationals.
“Johanne fit in just nicely,” Whittier remembered.
“She’s going to be missed, and not just by the wheelchair program either,” added member Nancy Rowell, who worked with Poulin on many occasions for events at the club.
“She was a natural leader, Miss Congeniality,” Rowell said, explaining that Poulin was an ambassador for the sport and the club.
“She always had a big smile for everybody.”
Poulin helped organize a ‘fun day’ years ago at the club, to show able-bodied curlers what it is like to curl in a wheelchair.
In addition to coaching the Lennoxville Wheelchair team, Poulin also coached the Special Olympics Curling team. In 2015, she was honoured by the association as Special Olympics Female Coach of the Year.
Rowell remembered Poulin’s first year as coach of the Special Olympics team. They were competing in Valleyfield. Upon arrival, they discovered the curling rink was not wheelchair accessible.
“So the boys just lifted her up and carried her in,” Rowell remembered, pointing out that Poulin would not be deterred.
“We could write a book about her and we’d still miss parts,” Whittier said.
“Coast to coast, everyone knew Johanne,” Whittier said. Poulin raised the profile of the sport and added to the familial atmosphere of the Lennoxville Curling club, he said.
“We have a wheelchair curler who comes all the way from Montreal to play here. That says something about the club,” commented Whittier.